Friends of Watermans Park

 

Friends of Watermans Park

Annual General Meeting

26 November 2025 at 7pm

To be held at Studio Flox, Watermans Park Building, 40 High Street, Brentford, TW8 0DS                                                                             

Agenda

To consider and if thought fit to pass the following resolutions:

1. TO approve the minutes of the 2024 AGM (see ANNEX I)
2. TO receive, consider and adopt the Chair & Treasurer's statement for the year ended 31 March 2025 (see ANNEX II)
3. TO reappoint Jane Dickinson as a Committee Member from the conclusion of the meeting
4. TO reappoint Angie Loader as a Committee Member from the conclusion of the meeting
5. TO reappoint Sara Novakovic as a Committee Member from the conclusion of the meeting

There will also be an opportunity to raise any other questions at the meeting.

 

If a member is unable to attend the meeting, they may vote on the resolutions here up until 12pm on 26 November.

 

Immediately following the formal business of the AGM, Christine Diwell will give a talk about JMW Turner Celebrating 250 Years – Local Connections.  Christine is a Local Historian and Heritage Guide.

 

ANNEX I

Minutes of the 4th Annual General Meeting on 15 October 2024 held at the Digital Dock at 7pm.

The Chair noted that notice of the meeting had been circulated on 12 September 2024 and an agenda and papers on 6 October 2024.  The meeting was declared quorate.

1. The minutes of the 2023 AGM were approved.
2. The Chair and Treasurer’s Statement for the year ended 31 March 2024 was discussed and approved.
3. Kal Watrobski was unanimously re-elected as Secretary from the conclusion of the meeting by those present and who had provided their votes to the Chair.
4. Philip Jones was unanimously re-elected as Chair and Treasurer from the conclusion of the meeting by those present and who had provided their votes to the Chair.
5. There was no further business.

Philip Jones

Chair, Friends of Watermans Park

15 October 2024

 

ANNEX II

 

Chair & Treasurer’s statement for the year ending 31 March 2025

The principal purpose of the Friends Group as set out in its constitution is to help protect, conserve and enhance Watermans Park, its environs and access to the River Thames for the enjoyment of local residents and visitors.

Local residents who have formed the Friends Group envisage a vibrant community amenity that can host community events and provide an attractive recreational area by the River Thames for all to enjoy.

This statement is a summary of activities for the year ending 31 March 2025 and since the year end to date.

 

Green Flag Awards

We were delighted that the park’s Green Flag award was renewed in July 2024 and July 2025.  The award is not only a recognised quality standard it also gives the Friends an opportunity to influence the Council’s Parks Team’s Management Plan for the park.  For example, re-surfacing the uneven Thames Path in the park had been noted as required in recent Management Plans and was completed in April 2025.

 

Mental Health Awareness

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, on 18 May, to celebrate and connect through the uplifting power of music, with the support of Edwin Addis, our Summer Bandstand host, we compiled a special Spotify playlist of songs nominated by our supporters – music that lifts the spirits and supports wellbeing. You can listen on Spotify here: Watermans Park 180525.  We hope it brings you joy!

This autumn, as part of Brentford FC’s ongoing mental health campaign, *Talking is the Best Tactic*, which aims to use the power of football to promote wellbeing and reduce stigma, benches are being installed along routes frequently used by fans walking to the Gtech Community Stadium – including Watermans Park. Each bench includes information about crisis support and mental health services and is accompanied by flower beds to create a calm and inviting environment.  The bench in the park has recently been installed.

 

Discovering the Bats of Brentford

With the support of Charlotte and Sophia of Habitats & Heritage, we held an enjoyable bat talk and walk in May and a self-guided walk at the end of August.  According to my record of ultrasonic recordings, we came across Western Barbastelle, Noctule, Nathusius’ Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle and the Common Serotine. Although we have yet to detect the shy long-eared brown bats of the St. Lawrence’s bat loft, the sound of bat detectors working overtime in St. Paul’s Rec was wonderful.

 

Community Garden Update & Garden Club

Sadly, our application to the LB Hounslow Thriving Communities Capital Fund to create a community garden in the park wasn’t successful this time. Given recent investment in the park, other projects were prioritised. 

However, since the summer, led by Angie, we have started to tend the flower beds near the western entrance, which are beginning to show real improvement – but more helping hands would be much appreciated.

 

Summer Bandstands

Since 2022 we have really wanted to showcase the park, support local acts and encourage people to come to the park on summer weekend afternoons.  In 2024 there were 6 Summer Bandstands, including 2 over the Creative Mile weekend.  For the 2025 season there were 3 Summer Bandstands in July 2025 (another was scheduled but cancelled due to poor weather). 

Typically, at each Bandstand there were 3 or 4 local acts over 2 hours although audiences were lower in 2025 at perhaps 30-40.  In July we were very pleased to welcome back the Speak Out in Hounslow choir and some new performers including Nicole Hines, students from the Powerjam Project and Ian Pass (the Real Alfie).  Other guests included regulars Edwin Addis (our host), Andrea Black, Steve Brewin, Compound Radius, Gareth Haze, Ed Hopwood, Steve Hutchinson and Elaine Samuels. They provided great music and a relaxed family atmosphere.

At each Bandstand in 2025 we collected funds for Speak Out and were delighted to raise £229 (£79 cash and £150 through JustGiving) for this splendid charity that does such good work to support adults with learning difficulties and/or autism.

In 2024 and 2025 we were delighted that GoodGym promoted the Bandstands to their volunteers and that at each Bandstand at least a couple of volunteers were able to help set up. 

Each year’s Bandstands have been made possible by grants from the Thriving Communities Fund.

 

Talks

A sense of place is important and the Friends have been pleased to organise several talks in recent years which proved popular.  Our sincere thanks to Janet McNamara, Hilary Periera, Miranda Vickers, David Shailes, Jim Storrar and Scott Margetts who have given talks on topics ranging from the Gas Works, wrecks once moored at Watermans, the

Panorama of the Thames, Islands of the River Thames, Kingfishers of Brentford, and the changing face of Brentford’s High Street.

Immediately following the formal business of this year’s AGM, we are delighted that Christine Diwell has kindly agreed to give a talk about JMW Turner Celebrating 250 Years – Local Connections.  Christine is a Local Historian and Heritage Guide.

 

Moorings development

At the beginning of November 2025, four holding companies in the group that own the developer of the moorings at Watermans, including its immediate and intermediate holding companies, entered administration.  We await further information from the Council to understand the implications for the park and riverside.

 

Albany Riverside development

Comments on the updated plans for the Albany Riverside development of the former Arts Centre and Watermans Park Building were submitted at the end of September.

We broadly welcome proposals to enhance the park interface with the development but strongly feel that existing trees at the park entrance should be retained. There are also opportunities to:

• Improve accessibility
• Ensure access to toilets and drinking water in the park
• Secure investment for the park using planning-gain proceeds. Further investment was identified as being needed in the Brentford Town Centre Master Plan (approved in 2024)

You can read the full submission here.  I understand we will received a formal response from the planning team.

A public drop-in session on Thursday 13 November at the Armenian Church on Ealing Road, offered a chance to review the changes and speak directly with the applicant developer’s team.

 

Friends Group finances

There are there are currently 22 members who have paid their subscription for 2025/26 and an honorary member, Lea Seabourne, who founded the Friends back in 2019.

The Friends currently have net assets of £534 which will provide funds to support activities in 2026.  This year’s liability insurance premiums have been largely rebated by the Council under a special arrangement for Friends Groups.

Hounslow Parks Team

The Friends thank Gaye Galvin (Head of Parks Development and Green Infrastructure) and Lena Sandhu (Parks Project Officer) for their support and Liam Moore’s Greenspace team for looking after the park, including Jim Buchan (Allotment Officer). A special mention also to Steve Reid who empties the bins daily during the week, removing litter and reporting any damage.

 

Friends Group Committee

The other members of the Friends Group Committee are Kal Watrobski (Secretary), Jane Dickinson, Angie Loader and Sara Novakovic.  My sincere thanks for their support.

At this AGM, Angie, Jane and Sara will seek re-election on 26 November 2025. 

 

Philip Jones

Chair, Friends of Watermans Park

17 November 2025